An hour of hookah tobacco smoking equals 40 to 400 cigarettes. This depends on frequency of puffing, depth of inhalation, and session length.
Hookah smoke contains 36 times more tar, 15 times more carbon monoxide, and 70% more nicotine than cigarette smoke. Hookah smokers absorb more toxins than cigarette smokers.
Myths vs. Facts
Hour-long hookah sessions involve inhaling large smoke amounts. But this doesn’t equal smoking countless cigarettes.
A hookah session involves 90,000 ml smoke inhalation compared to 500–600 ml for cigarettes. Hookahs deliver up to 9 times the carbon monoxide and 1.7 times the nicotine of one cigarette.
Additional Information
Hookah smoking is social, with mouthpieces passed between people. It lasts around an hour with 200 puffs. This equals 100 cigarettes. Hookah is addictive.
Hookah moms have higher-risk babies, weighing 3.5 oz less. Hookah smoke contains 36 times more tar and 8 times more carbon monoxide than cigarettes.
Flavored tobacco burns on charcoal, the smoke passing through water then inhaled through a mouthpiece. Hookah originated from coconuts filtering opium smoke. It gained quick Asian popularity.